Can body flanging mechanism



Dec. 25, 1951 A. FUNKE CAN BODY FLANGING MECHANISM s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 22, 1948 \N I. M mmww MM, 0% WWW ATToRNEYS A. FUNKE Dec. 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1948 A. FUNKE CAN BODY FLANGING MECHANISM Dec. 25, 1951 Filed Nov. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 FUNKE 2,579,919

CAN BODY FLANGING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 '11 t l lllll Patented Dec. 25, 1951 TENT OFFICE CAN BODY FLANGING MECHANISM Albert Funke, Passaic, N. J., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 22, 1948, Serial No. 61,415 7 Claims. (Cl. 15321) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a flanging mechanism for forming flanges on the ends of can bodies and more particularly a flanging mechanism that can be associated with a body maker and become a part thereof so that, as the can bodies are formed, they are flanged before they leave the body maker.

An object of the invention is to provide a flanging mechanism of the above type which is so disposed relative to the body supporting horn that two can bodies with their edges abutted may be fed to the hanging mechanism and located relative thereto so that flanges may be simultaneously formed on the abutting edge portions of the can bodies.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flanging mechanism of the above type wherein an intermittently operating feedingmech'anism feeds the can in abutted relation to the flanging mechanism and a locating device positions the can bodies so that the abutting edges of the can bodies are accurately placed in the flanging mechanism whereby flanges of uniform shape and size will be simultaneously formed on both of said can bodies.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the end portion of the horn with the inner die members moved outward into flanging position;

Figure 8 is a view of the end of the horn, said view being taken on the line I, l of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a side view of the inner flanging dies and. the associated cam for expanding the dies, the dies being shown in expanded position;

Figure 10 is an end view of the devices which retract the can bodies and place the same against the locating device;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the devices shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an end view of the positioning stops at the end of the horn and the associated cam for operating the same; p

Figure 13 is a view on a smaller scale showing the outer forming dies and the means for expanding and contracting the same; and

Figure 14 is a view showing more or less diagrammatically in side view a portion of the sup- These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a Vertical sectional view through the end portion of the supporting horn for a body maker showing the improved flanging mechanism applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the can bodies in place and fianging devices actuated to form the flanges on the abutted edges of the can bodies;

Figure 3 is a view showing more or less diagrammatically and in section can bodies when first placed on the supporting horn preparatory to the locating of the abutted edges for flanging;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the can bodies as having been retracted into contact with the locating finger which positions the abutted edges of the can bodies in a vertical plane passing midway through the flanging devices;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in section of the flanging dies with the outer die in contact with the outer face of the can bodies preparatory to turning the edge portions to the forming of the flanges on the two adjacent edge portions of the can bodies;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure ing the completion of the flanges 5 but showporting horn and the feed dogs for moving the can bodies intermittently along the horn and to the flanging mechanism.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the supporting horn of a body maker is provided with an extension and associated with the extension is a flanging mechanism including inner and outer flanging dies. The can bodies are fed along the horn by a reciprocating feed bar carrying yielding feed dogs. The can bodies are moved along the horn in spaced relation until they reach the flanging mechanism and then two can bodies at a time are fed to flanging position with their edges abutted. vThe feed dogs which move the can bodies along the horn will carry the abutted edges to a position slightly beyond the center plane of the flanging dies and other devices come into action when the can bodies are released by the feed dogs for retracting the can bodies and placing the same against a locating finger which insures that the abutted. edges of the can bodies to be flanged will lie in a vertical plane midway between the sides of the flanging dies.

After the can bodies are positioned the external dies are moved into engagement with the outer faces of the can bodies and then the internal dies are expanded and brought into contact with the edge portions of the two can bodies at the same time and flanges are formed on theadjacent ends of the two can bodies simultaneously.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the supporting horn of a body maker is indicated at I. Attached to this supporting horn is a horn extension 2, said horn extension is secured to the main portion of the horn by bolts 3, 3. See Figure 7. The extension 2 is spaced away from the I main section of the horn l by shoulders formed on the bolts 3, 3. Located in this space between the main portion of the horn and the extension are the internal flange forming dies 5. These internal hanging dies are formed in four, sections 4 4 4 and) 4 The four sections are shown in Figure 9. As illustrated in this figure, the die sections are moved to expanded position, that is, the position shown in Figures 2 and 7. The die sections are attached to a control cam 5-. The die sections are connected to the control cam. by a usual form of dovetail construction. which is indicated at 6 in the drawings. This dovetail con-- nection between the control cam and the sections of die will positively move the die sections outwardly when the control cam is moved from the position in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, and when the control cam is moved in the opposite direction it will. retract the die sec tions The die sections. 4 and 4 are provided with elongated holes 1, T through. which the bolts The invention is shown employed in the flanging of can bodies which are square in shape and these holes 1, 1, while permittin free radial movement of the inner die sections; will prevent said ections from turning. Each die section is provided with a flange forming rib 8 and the rib on the die section G is recessed as indicated. at 9 as shown in Figure 9, to accommodate the side seam oi the can body. V a

Thecontrol cam 5 is rigidly attached to a rod H! which is reciprocated by any suitable mechanism and in proper timing to expand and contract the inner die sections for the flange forming operation.

Associated with these inner die forming sections are outer die forming sections H H, H and ll as shown in Figure 13. tions are mounted in a supporting bracket l2 for radial movement therein. The inner faces of the external die sections are shaped to conform to the square can body with its rounded V corners. For a flangin'g' operation the outer or external die sections are moved into engagement with the can bodies as shown in Figure 2. The inner face of each die section is provided with a recess I3 and the recess is so shaped as to provide rounded corners l4, [4 at the entrance side of the recess.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, two can bodies with their end edges abutted are positioned between the fianging dies so that the abutting edges lie in a vertical plane passing midway through the recess I3. When the internal die sections are expanded the ribs 8 thereon engage the end portions of the two abutted can bodies and turn said portions outwardly so as to bend the metal around the curved portions M, it into the recess. This forms the flange on the can body and the two flanges of the adjacent can bodies are simultaneously formed. When these abutted edges are accurately positioned relative to the recess, the flanges will be uniform in shape and size.

The outer die sections are moved into engage-- ment with the can body by a control cam i5. which control cam is mounted for oscillation. (See Figure 13.) Said cam ring carries a bracket [6 to which a rod I! is pivoted at It. This rod is reciprocated byany suitable mechanism and in proper timing for oscillating the cam ring for moving the external die sections into contact with the can body for a fianging operation.

These die sec- Each external die section is provided with a roller IS. A spring 2%] associated with each section normally forces the section outwardly against the inner edge of the cam ring. The cam ring isprovided with recesses l6. When these recesses are brought opposite the rollers by the oscillation of the cam ring, the external die sections are expanded. and faces thereof moved away from the can bodies as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. When, however, the cam ring is moved to the full line position shown in Figure 13; then the rollers are forced inwardly and the external die members or sections moved intocontactwi th the can body.

The rod H is provided with an adjustable means 2! so that the extent of oscillation of the cam ring can be varied and thus the external die sections will be moved firmly into contact with the can body preparatory to a hanging operation without bending or injuring the can body wall. The inner camming edge of the con'-. trol cam ['5 adjacent the recess [6 is eccentric to the center of oscillation of the ring so that after the roller moves out of the recess it will be gradually moved inward to an extent determined by the oscillation of the cam ring.

The can bodies are moved along the horn. by a reciprocable feed bar 22 which is reciprocated by any suitable means in a recess formed in one of the side faces of the body supporting horn (see Figure 14). Mounted in this feed bar are series of feed dogs 23. The feed dogs are of the usual construction and are yieldingly mount-ed so that the toe end of the feed dog will normalhr project beyond the surface of the horn and will engage a can body and move it along the horn.

a position so that its trailing end is slightly be- I yond a locating finger 24. When the can body A is moved to position shown'in Figure 3 it abuts against the advanced can body A and is the only means for moving the can body A to the fianging devices.

V This locating finger 24 is mounted in a recess in the main horn section I and a spring 25 raises the locator so that the active end 26 thereof normally projects slightly abovethe outer face of the horn. The left hand face of this locator is substantially at right angles to the line of feed while the right hand face as viewed in Figure 1 is inclined and therefore the can body, when it contacts with the inclined face of the locator finger will cause it to yield so that the can body moves over the locator to a position shown; in Figure 3 wherein the can body is slightly spaced away from the locator finger. This gives ample room for the locator finger to be moved so that its active end is raised above the surface of the born as clearly shown in this Figure 3.

The main portion of the work supporting horn l is provided with recesses 21 which extend around the sides of the horn and the round corners thereof. Disposed in this recess 21 are deure 10 and in plan view in Figure 11 and in section view in the Figures 1 to 4. There are two devices and the two devices together extend all the way. around the horn. The two devices are shown in Figure with the ends 29 and 30 spaced from each other. Springs 3| located in recesses in the end portions of these two sections serve to separate the two sections from each other to a limited extent. The sections are shown as normally spaced from each other in Figure 10 of the drawings. This is before the can body moves over these retracting devices.

The retracting device at the upperside of the horn has a recess 32 therein to receive the side seam of the can body. The retracting devices are secured to the horn by suitable means passing through slots 33 in the devices. These holding devices for retaining the sections on the horn limit the expanding of the two sectionsby the spring 3| and at the same time permit these devices to move endwise of the horn in view of the fact that the slots are elongated.

The ends of these retracting devices are tapered as indicated at 34. There are a series of springs 35 carried by these retracting devices which abut against the wall 36 of the horn and normally force the retracting devices along the horn until the opposite end thereof engages the wall 31 of the recess. This is the normal position of these retracting devices before the can body is moved onto the same.

When the feed dog moves the can body A onto the horn and onto these retracting devices, the can body will engage the tapered end 34 of the retracting devices andforce them into the recesses sufiiciently so that the sprin 3| will force the retracting devices into tight frictional contact with the innerwall of the can body. This grip of the can body on these retracting devices as the can body is moved over the same will move the retracting devices to the position shown in Figure 3. At this time the feed dog is in engagement with the end of the can body A.

As soon as the feed dog is retracted then these retracting devices 28 will move back through the action of the springs 35 to their initial position or substantially so, and this will retract the can body A and place it against the projecting end 26 of the locating finger 24. The horn extension 2 is provided with a recess 2'1 and located in the recess are the retracting devices 28 which are similar in construction to the devices 28 and operated in the same manner on the can body A (see Fig. 4). These devices grip the can body A and the springs 35 will hold the can body in abutment with the can body A so that when the can body A is moved into contact with the locating finger the edges of the two can bodies A and A will be held in abutted position and the locating finger will accurately position these abutted edges in a vertical plane midway of the recess I 3.

At the outer end of the horn extension 2 are positioning stops 36. There are two positioning stops, one at the top and the other at the bottom portion of the horn. These stops are located in a recess 31*- in the end of the horn extension 2.

The recess has parallel vertical walls and these walls serve to guide the stops in their radial movement in the end of the horn. Associated with the stops is a control cam 39. The control cam and the stops are provided with interengaging dovetail connections indicated at 40. The control cam, therefore, when moved laterally relative to the stops will positively expand or move the stops outward when moved in one direction and will retract and move the stops at wardly when moved in the opposite direction. Each stop has a rib 4| and provided with a curved inner face 42 which is. shaped to conform to a finished flange on the can body.

When the can bodies are moved to the position shown in Figure 3, stops 36 are retracted. When the can bodies are retracted against the locating figure as shown in Figure 4, then the stops are moved outward into engagement with the flange on the can body A As shown in Figure 4 the two can bodies are abutted and positioned for flanging operation. The stops 36 are in engagement with the flanged end of the can body A and, therefore, when the fianging dies operate to turn the flanges the two'can bodies will be positively held against endwise movement and this further aids in the simultaneously forming flanges which are of uniform size and shape on the two adjacent ends of the can bodies A and A As soon as the flanging portion is completed then the positioning stops 36 are retracted and when another can body is fed to the flanging mechanism for another fiangin operation the can body A wil be ejected from the machine. It will thus be seen that as the can bodies pass along the horn after they have been formed thereon they will be flanged, first at one end and then another and then discharged from the machine.

The control cam 39 is mounted on the rod Hi. It abuts against a shoulder 43 formed on the rod, and a spring 44 encircling the rod presses the control cam against the shoulder, when the rod I0 is moved to the extreme left as shown in Figure 1. There are nuts 45 on the end of the rod.

Attached to the end of the horn by the bolts 3,3 is a cap plate 46. When the parts are in position shown in Figure 1, the stops are retracted and the internal dies are also retracted. These members are retracted until the can bodies are placed ready for a Hanging operation. The rod I0 is then moved to the right and the spring contacting with the control cam 39 will first move the positioning stops 36 outwardly into engagement with the end of the can body A as shown in Figure 4. A further movement of the rod In to the right will compress the spring 44, and it will also continue to move the control cam 5 so as to expand the internal dies and perform the flanging operation. 7

It is believed that the operation of applicant's improved fianging mechanism will be obvious from the details of description which are given above. The can bodies are moved one after another along the horn by the feed dogs on the feed bar until they reach the flanging station. Then the can body which has been flanged is moved from the flanging mechanism by the next can body abutting against the edge thereof. This enables the feed dog on the feed bar to position the abutted edges of two can bodies relative to the fianging mechanism. The feed dog carries the can body slightly beyond fianging position and the retracting devices in the horn operate when the feed dog is retracted to move the two can bodies while the edges are abutted against the locating finger ready for the flanging operation.

Just prior to the expansion of the internal dies the positioning stops are moved outward into engagement with the flanged end of the advanced can body and thus the two can bodies with their s edges abutted andthe edges accurately located in the flanging mechanism are simultaneously flanged and flanges formedon both can bodies which are uniform as to size and shape.

While the invention is shown and described as applied to the making of a can body which is square, in cross section, it will be understood that said invention may be equally applied to the making of .can bodies of other cross sectional shape as, for example, round, oval, or rectangular.

It is obvious that many changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in ing said flange forming dies to simultaneously engage the abutting edge portions of the two abutted can bodies for forming flanges thereon. 2-. A machine for hanging can bodies comprising a supporting horn, integral flanging dies located in said horn and means for expanding and contracting said dies, external fianging dies surrounding said horn and means {or contracting and expanding said external dies, means for intermittently feeding two can bodies with their ends abutted along said horn to said flange forming dies, a yielding locating finger over which the can bodies are fed, means for retracting the can bodies when released by the feeding means so as to position the trailing end of the can bodies against said locating finger and thereby position the abutted edges midway of the flange forming dies, and means for causing said flange forming dies to simultaneously engage the abutting edge portions of the two abutted can bodies for forming flanges thereon.

3. A machine for flanging can bodies comprisc ing a supporting horn, integral flanging dies located in said horn and means for expanding and contracting said dies, external flanging dies surrounding said horn and means for contracting and expanding said external dies, means for intermittently feeding two can bodies with their ends abutted along said horn to said flange form ing dies, a yielding locating finger over which the can bodies are fed, means for retracting the can bodies when released by the feeding means so as to position the trailing end of the can bodies against said locating finger and thereby position the abutted edges midway of the flange forming dies, means for causing said flange forming dies to simultaneously engage the abutting edge portions-of the two abutted can bodies for forming flanges thereon, and a positioning stop adapted to engage the advanced edge of the can bodies for holding the can bodies against the positioning lflnger during the flange forming operation.v

4. A machine for flanging can bodies comprising a supporting horn, internal flanging dies located in said horn and means for expanding and contracting said dies, external flanging dies surrounding said horn and means for contracting and expanding said external dies, means for intermittently feeding can bodies with their ends abutted along the horn to said flanging dies a S yielding locating guide finger over which the can "bodies are fed to the' flanging' dies, means for retracting the can bodies to position the trailing edge of the can bodies againstsaid'po sitioning finger when the feeding mechanism releases said can bodies; said positioning finger being s0 disposed that when the can bodies are in engagement therewith the abutting edge portions are positioned midway the flanging dies, and means for operating said flange forming device for simultaneouslyforming flanges from the abutted edge portions of both of said can bodies at the same time. r

5. A machine for flanging can'bodies comprising a supporting horn, internal flanging dies 10- cated in said horn and means for expanding and contracting said dies, external fianging dies surrounding said horn and means for contracting and expanding said external dies, means for intermittently feeding can bodies with their ends abutted along the horn to'said' flanging'dies, a yielding locating guide fingerover which the can bodies are fed to the flan'ging dies, means for retracting the can bodies to position'the trailing edge of the can bodies against said positioning finger when the feeding mechanism releases said can bodies, said positioning finger being so disposed that when the can bodies are in engagement therewith the abutting edge portions are positioned midway the flanging dies, :and means for operating said flange forming device for simultaneously forming flanges from the abutted edge portions'of both'of said can bodies at the same time, and positioning stopsdisposed in said horn and adapted to engage the advanced edge of the can bodies for holding the same in contact with the positioning finger during the flange forming operation. 7

6. A machine for flanging can bodies comprising a body supporting horn, internal flanging dies located in said horn, means for expanding and contracting said dies, external flanging dies surrounding said horn and means for contracting and expanding said external dies, means for intermittently feeding two can bodies with their adjacent ends abutting alongsaid horn to said flanging dies, a yielding positioning finger over which the can bodies are fed to the fianging dies, independent devices mounted on said horn and adapted to frictionally engage the interior of said can bodies respectively, springs associated with each of said frictional devices for retracting the same and moving the trailing edge of the can bodies into engagement with the positioning finger for positioning the abutted edges of the can body midway of the flange forming dies, and means for causing said flange forming dies to simultaneously engage the abutting edge portion of the two abutted can bodies for forming flanges thereon.

'7. A machine for flanging inga body supporting horn, internal ,flanging'dies located in said horn, meansfor expanding and contracting said dies, external flanging .dies surrounding said horn and means for contracting and expanding said external dies, means'for intermittently feeding two canbodies with their adjacent ends abutting alongsaid horn to said flanging dies, "2, yielding positioning'finger over.

which the can bodies are fed to the flanging dies, independent devices mounted on said horn and adapted to frictionally engage therinterior of said can bodies respectively, springs associated with each of said frictional devices for retracting the same and moving the trailing ledge-of can bodies corhpris The following references REFERENCES CITED are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kruse Mar. 21, 1916 Kruse Oct. 3, 1922 

